Maj. Nidal Hasan is representing himself at his upcoming murder trial. The judge last week said his previous attorneys would stand by and help him if he requests it. The upcoming legal proceeding is expected to take months and involve the testimony of hundreds of witnesses.

On Tuesday, the judge gave defense attorneys about 24 hours to submit motions supporting their argument that they cannot comply with Hasan’s requests.

It’s unclear when the judge will rule whether to allow Hasan’s defense strategy in which he wants to tell jurors he shot U.S. troops at Fort Hood to protect Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.

Hasan faces the death penalty if convicted in the 2009 rampage that left 13 dead on the Texas Army post.